Sony expands its mobile lineup with a new superphone and a new companion device

Bigger is better, right? Well, that's what AT&T's current series of commercials have told us. It seems as though Sony subscribes to that theory as well because the company just dropped a monster smartphone on an unsuspecting public: the Xperia Z Ultra.

The latest and greatest from Sony will launch during the third quarter and will be available in white, black, and purple.

In other Sony news, it has announced its SmartWatch 2 companion device for Android devices. The SmartWatch 2 features a 1.6", 220x176 touch screen and dust- and water-resistant aluminum body. The device supports NFC and Bluetooth, and can accept incoming calls from your smartphone (if you don't mind looking silly talking into your wrist).

"Competitors are only now launching first generation devices, while we are already launching a 3rd generation device with all the insight gained from over half a million customers combined with Sony's wealth of technology expertise to create the best ever smartwatch experience," said Stefan K Persson, Head of Companion Products at Sony Mobile Communications.

"The future of wearable devices is incredibly bright with analyst research predicting 41 million 'smart' watches will be sold by 2016. We have over 200 unique apps dedicated for Sony SmartWatch with over one million downloads to date and we are continuing to work with our strong developer network to deliver ever more compelling smartwatch experiences."

The Sony SmartWatch 2 will be available worldwide in September.

Source: Sony

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...who are even now developing copyright and design infringement suits for that watch. Who cares if the iTime hasn't even made it to market! :-)

I've friends who've stopped wearing their watches as their phones have supplanted the need -- like cellphones replacing landlines. Maybe this will sell to those Proud Grandparents who want to show you every pix of their grandchildren?

I can't see much use for a smart-watch except, ridiculously -- as hinted in another post -- it could make a nice memo-display for my smartphone. "Dental appt. in 30 minutes", "email from Sis", "Txt from idiot: blah, blah, blah". I get too many "Dings" from my phone; I'd love to have a watch helping me triage the recent chirp -- should I haul out the phone, or pull off the road, or (most likely) ignore it.

I wouldn't consider a phablet that size with those expansive borders around the display. Too large for a pocket and I'm not metrosexual enough for a man-purse. I'd love a phone with an edge-to-edge display with the face-cam' eliminating a few pixels of display (which could be viewed by scrolling text past the lens area). That would sell a 6" unit for me!

1. Most wrist watches are durable (i.e. they can take a significant impact) while a smart phone cannot.2. Most wrist watched are water resistant, while smart phones are not.3. Wrist watches have a very long lasting power source while smart phones can only go a few days (at most) before needing to be recharged.4. A wrist watch can be worn at all times, even during physical activities. A smart phone requires a pocket, handbag, or other storage container.5. A wrist watch is unobtrusive and can tell you the time with a casual glance. A smart phone requires you to push a button, which illuminates a bright screen; not always an appropriate thing to do, like in a movie theater, in church, etc.6. Wrist watches can be had very cheaply, while a trendy new smart phone could make you a target for theft on the subway or in the rough part of town.7. Smart phones are easily forgotten on the back seat of a taxi, at a restaurant, etc. Its hard to lose a wrist watch since it is strapped to your wrist.

You've made an argument for not buying a cellphone to replace a watch. However, you've made little argument that one shouldn't set aside one's watch if one must have a cellphone at hand -- as is the case for many (e.g. business people, many parents, Responsible Parties [e.g. on-call staff]).

I wear one or two watches (the latter during some sports); I always carry a cell except during water sports (where I do wear a watch). My friends who've stopped wearing watches have assimilated a change I'd find awkward, but it works for them so why fester about it?